City break or beach holiday? There’s no need to choose – here are the European hotspots that offer the best of both: buzzy urban life right next to stretches of sand where you can plonk your towel and nap to a soundtrack of crashing waves, from the Michelin stars of San Sebastián to the Twenties trams in Porto that lead straight to the ocean.

BEST FOR: POST-SWIM CAFÉ CULTURE

Compared to Italy’s big-hitting cities, there is nothing to write home about in Trieste – no ancient landmarks or instantly recognisable art or world-famous restaurants. And yet, visitors keep turning up; to fall in love with the place is just to get lost in its alleys. The soft pink light and wild wind have drawn writers and misfits for decades. The Adriatic crashes below the town, and locals make the most of the proximity to the water with regular trips to the thin strips of beach. Follow suit.

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More coffee is drunk in Trieste than in any other corner of Italy. Grab a table outside Caffè degli Specchi for one of the best espressos in the city.

BEST FOR: MEDITERRANEAN MOOCHING

If you’re after French Riviera glitz, look somewhere other than Nice. Sitting pretty next to flashy Cannes and ritzy St Tropez, this seaside city is anything but a scene. It doesn’t even feel much like France (which makes sense when you learn that, until 150 years ago, it was part of Italy): a classic Mediterranean mongrel that pairs old-school Italian culture and faded grandeur with gritty urbanity. This is a city of pastels and sunshine with a retro-style promenade dotted with candy-coloured parasols. Splash out on a sun lounger if you plan to spend an afternoon on the pebble beach.

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For cutting-edge culture, head to Le 109, a revamped slaughterhouse that’s now home to quirky art exhibitions set to a soundtrack of techno DJs.

The real Riviera

BEST FOR: A SHORT-HOP WEEKEND BREAK

For a burst of sun and sea almost year-round, go to Lisbon. Stay in Bairro Alto, a busy neighbourhood filled with locals drinking white port and tonics and eating salt-cod fritters, or choose charmingly quiet Alfalma. Do catch a tram when you can (number 28 is the one to look for to get that postcard shot) and head west to Belem for a stroll along the Tagus Estuary promenade and to try the best pastel de nata in town. Praia de Carcavelos is just half an hour away on public transport, or take the 45-minute train ride to Praia de Guincho for great surfing.

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Get above the city for the most spectacular views of those famous hills rolling down to the ocean at one of Lisbon’s numerous rooftop bars; try Park, a hipster joint on top of a car park.

City break: Lisbon, Portugal

BEST FOR: HISTORY BUFFS

Split’s polished marble streets and terracotta rooftops have sat for hundreds of years on a peninsula stretched over the sparkly Adriatic Sea. Founded by the Romans, the Old Town is inside the walls of fourth-century fortress Diocletian’s Palace. Along the shady, meandering, car-free streets, forward-thinking restaurants jostle for attention – try To Je Tako for fresh Mexican sharing plates. If you’re the spontaneous type, you can dive straight into the water from the city’s promenade. Croatia’s beaches are often rocky coves – head to Bene beach for soft sand.

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For an additional hit of nature, head out to Krka Falls where you can swim in crystal clear waters surrounded by the greenest trees.

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BEST FOR: YACHT-SPOTTING

A low-slung, white-washed town sitting smartly in front of rolling, pine-dotted countryside, Bodrum is popular with the superyacht set and its delicious anonymity has long drawn celebrities from around the world. Terraces of ocean-front cafés are filled with a cosmopolitan crowd from Istanbul and narrow roads lead away from the shimmering Aegean to a clutch of boutique hotels and classic beach clubs. We like Maçakizi, hidden behind bougainvillaea, which serves brilliant supper dishes such as pan-seared sea bass.

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BEST FOR: FOODIES

You could happily spend days wandering through San Sebastián’s Old Town, breaking only for pitstops at the many pinxtos bars. Spot the best ones by the crowds outside – no one sits down, so join the locals and huddle around oak barrels for thimbles of beer or wine, and tapas. Ganbara does a brilliant toast piled with mushrooms and an oozing poached egg, and La Vina is a must-visit for the cheesecake. There are also an incredible 17 Michelin stars in this town; if you’re able to splash some cash stay at restaurant-with-rooms Akellare, or for a single blow-out supper head to Arzak.

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Locals go to Zurriola beach rather than the bigger La Concha – it’s much quieter, and a great spot for watching the surfers.

Elena Arzak on the best restaurants in San Sebastián

BEST FOR: ARTY TYPES

The sleepy little sister of Lisbon, Porto feels on the brink of its big moment. Narrow townhouses seem stacked on top of one another, creative foodie joints run the spectrum from affordable bites (try the fresh fish at Restaurante Cafeina) to fine-dining powerhouses (Michelin-star Antiqvvm for its unusual carrot cheesecake with yuzu mousse), and smart boutique hotels owned by young creatives are packed with quirky design features. Wander the streets to see classic Portuguese tiling (at its best here) and street art. The wide Atlantic beaches are some of the best in Europe: a tram will get you to the oceanfront from the centre of downtown in less than 20 minutes.

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For a snapshot of local life, head to Foz do Douro, a seafront neighbourhood of Porto. Eat small plates at Casa Vasco, then walk the few blocks to the edge of the sea for a bracing paddle.

Foz do Douro, Porto, by JO&SO: Off the Beaten Track

BEST FOR: SUNBATHERS WHO DON'T LIKE STANDING STILL

If you barter well enough with hawkers on Barceloneta beach, you’ll find some of the cheapest beers in the city (avoid the Mojitos; they’re weak and consist mainly of ice). First though, line your stomach at MakaMaka, the best – and busiest – burger bar in town, or wander further into Barceloneta’s grid to find family-run tapas bars and bakeries you’ll smell before you see, such as fourth-generation-run Baluard. Pause to enjoy skateboarding displays and impromptu musical performances on the promenade.

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Pack a picnic and head to Nova Icaria, just north of Barceloneta, to find more space on the sand.